The three of us gather in chairs right there in my dining room. We go heart-deep and my dear friend Jennifer says words like these, “I’ve struggled with believing the lie that I’m not smart enough.” It’s a stunning confession to those of us listening because, as Suzie replies, “You’re one of the smartest people I know!”

Later Suzie admits she’s struggled with believing she’s not good enough. And we are again shocked because she’s a woman of faithfulness and excellence in our eyes. I add my own lie, that I have strived to earn my worth because I sometimes don’t believe who I am is adequate. Yet I’m the girl God has used to write books about embracing who we are and becoming all God created us to be.

A lightbulb comes on as I realize suddenly that the enemy is lying to us in the area of our giftings.

I imagine he does the same with you too. Because I think the purpose of the lies is to hold us back from who we’re created to be and what we’re called to do. I will never forget Priscilla Shirer making a powerful statement that basically came down to, “The attacks on our lives are more about who the enemy believes we can become than who we are right now.”

So if you are in a battle today, if you are hearing lies, do not let the enemy shame you, do not let him make you feel guilty. We can block those arrows and say, “No, in Jesus’ name, I am a warrior and I’m going to resist until the day I go home.”

There are going to be times when we need our sisters to lock shields with us too and say, “I’m going to take those arrows for awhile. I’m going to stand in the gap for you.” There is no shame in that either. In the Kingdom of God, there is no such thing as an army of one. We are always strong, better and braver together.

The purpose of the lies our hearts hear is to hold us back from who we’re created to be and what we’re called to do…. The attacks on our lives are more about who the enemy believes we can become than who we are right now. —#MoreThanSmallTalk Video

{Email subscribers, if you can’t see the video below click here to watch it.}

I’ve heard the whispers in my heart…

You’re not enough.

You don’t have what it takes.

You need to earn your worth.

If you’ve ever heard lies like these too, then I have some fun encouragement today for you–and every woman in your life who may have heard lies like those too!

The video is totally free, less than twenty minutes long and packed full of real conversation, laughter and connection. It got over 5,000 vies in the first 24 hours! It will give you what you need so that you can start overcoming the lies in your life today.

{Email subscribers, if you can’t see the video above click here to watch it.}

XOXO

Holley

p.s. Watch for other #MoreThanSmallTalk videos coming in the future! To make sure you don’t miss them just like my facebook page. And I’d love for you to follow Suzie and Jennifer on Facebook, too.

I pose this question to a group of women online one evening: “What lies are our hearts tempted to believe? Think about yourself but also your daughters, sisters, friends, and others.” I expect a trickle of responses, but instead there’s a waterfall of words. Hundreds of women share confessions like, “I’m inadequate,” “I feel invisible,” and “If anyone really knew me they wouldn’t love me the same way.”

I nod in understanding and feel a fierce longing to reach through my computer screen and wrap protective arms around every person who has left a comment.

Our battle against the lies our hearts believe goes all the way back to Eden. The enemy tempted Eve with the question, “Did God really say . . . ?” That phrase is the tip on every sword of untruth. And he still uses it to pierce the deepest parts of who we are.

Did God really say you’re loved?

Did God really say you’re enough?

Did God really say He has a good plan for your life?

Before we know it, the lies slip in and our joy, peace, and sense of purpose slip out. But we don’t have to live that way. We belong to a Savior who promised, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

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Writing this book changed my life. And I truly believe reading it will change yours. If you are ready for new freedom, joy and a deeper sense of who you are and God’s purpose for you then this devotional is for you! {It will make a great gift for any woman in your life who needs encouragement too.}

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” must have been said by someone who never experienced Junior High. I still remember the sentences hurled at me. “You’re so ugly.” “No one likes you.” “You’re such a dork (the ultimate insult in the early nineties).”

I outgrew my acid-washed jeans, tamed my big bangs and became a grown-up. But there were still words that wounded me. And this time the attacker of my heart followed me home. Actually, she followed me everywhere. Because she was me. She said things like, “You’re not a good enough wife.” “You don’t have what it takes.” “You should be a better Christian.”

All those hurtful words shortened into a handful of names scribbled across my soul…

Outcast.

Failure.

Disappointment.

{I imagine you have your own labels too.}

I began to believe those words declared my identity. Like a badge that says, “Hi, my name is…” I let them define me. Limit me. Push me around. But then I read Philippians 2:9-10.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

It’s the first line in the first verse that changed so much for me. God “gave him the name above all other names.” Have you ever played cards? Then you know what a “trump card” means. It’s the one that beats all the others. The name of Jesus trumps all other names—including the ones other people, the enemy of our soul and even ourselves have tried to give us. In other words, Jesus gets the last say.

The world may try to name us “unwanted” but Jesus calls us “chosen.”

The enemy of our soul may try to name us “sinner” but Jesus calls us “forgiven.”

The voice in our own hearts may try to name us “victim” but Jesus calls us “victorious.”

The One who is the Word takes the power away from the words spoken to us. He is above all names. He is above all labels. He is above all critical comments. He is above all lies. He is above everything that tries to push us down, shut us up or keep us from being all we’re created to be. That truth is huge. Bigger than my bangs back in Junior High. {And believe me, that’s saying a lot.}

We’ve put up with all the nonsense that’s been said to us long enough, don’t you think? The time has come to put on our sassiest pair of shoes and stomp on all those names, labels and lies. Then we’ll stand tall above it all with the Savior who loves us. Are you with me?

XOXO

Holley Gerth

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P.S. Friends, a fantastic book released yesterday that I absolutely recommend. Choose Joy is a wonderful book to begin a new year!

P.S.S. Let’s make 2016 an amazing year. Will you take the dare with me?

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Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.

Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!

I stand at the kitchen stove and push my breakfast around a pan. My thoughts feel scrambled too. Lies have been nipping at my heels again. I close my eyes and whisper the prayer I’m learning to cling to in these moments, “God, what do You want to say to my heart today?”

Usually a Scripture comes to mind. Or maybe I remember encouraging words from a wise friend. But this time a new phrase comes instantly: I love you anyway.

Tears fill my eyes because it’s exactly what I need to hear. My struggles made it seem like God must be upset and far away. But He was still right there with me. And He was still for me.

When we battle depression, God loves us anyway.

When we fight anxiety, God loves us anyway.

When we mess up, God loves us anyway.

When we face doubts, God loves us anyway.

When we forget who we really are, God loves us anyway.

When we’re weary, God loves us anyway.

Whatever we’re struggling with today, God loves us anyway.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord {Rom. 8:38-39}.

I carry my plate to the table and whisper, “God, help me truly believe I’m loved by You right now just as I am.” My prayer is the same for you. May we be confident we’re loved anyway. May we be certain we’re loved always. Especially on the hard days.

XOXO

Holley Gerth

P.S. My friend Deidra Riggs released her first book last week and if this post resonated with you, I know her book will as well. In Every Little Thing, Deidra encourages us and shares that we are loved just as we are, right where we are.